at Southern Indiana (8-7, 2-1 GLVC): 3
Drury (10-5, 2-1 GLVC): 2
Box Score | Photo Gallery
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team rallied from a set down to defeat Drury University 12-25, 25-15, 28-26, 19-25, 15-10 in its home-opener Friday night in front of more than 500 fans at the Physical Activities Center.
USI (8-7, 2-1 GLVC) struggled early in the match as the Panthers attacked at a .290 pace and held the Screaming Eagles to a meager .067 attacking clip in the first frame.
Whatever jitters where there in the opening set quickly subsided in the next game as the Eagles used a 7-0 run to distance themselves from the opposition and build a 15-8 advantage. USI hit a blistering .500 and held the Panthers to a .067 attacking percentage in the second stanza as it evened the match at 1-1.
The Eagles dominated much of the third set, but a late Drury run turned what looked to be a USI victory into a possible loss. Drury (10-5, 2-1 GLVC) battled back from a 24-20 deficit to take a 25-24 lead, but the Eagles never faltered as they fought off two set points before getting back-to-back kills from senior middle blocker Ashley Henricks to close out a two-point win.
Despite dropping the third set and falling behind in the match, the Panthers used the momentum they picked up toward the end of the third frame as they raced out to a quick six-point lead in the fourth set.
USI used a 9-3 spurt to tie the game at 17-17, but a 4-0 Drury run from that point allowed the Panthers to hold off the Eagle rally and even the match at 2-2.
The Eagles took control of the fifth set, using a 3-0 run to begin the deciding game, but another Drury run saw the Panthers take a one-point edge. USI, however, got a pair of kills from junior outside hitter Brittany Oliver and senior outside hitter Courtney Bealor as it went on an 8-2 run to close the match out with the 3-2 victory.
Sophomore middle blocker Danielle LaGrange and senior setter Melanie Pund, who fittingly paired for the match-clinching block, led the Eagles in the victory. LaGrange had a match-high 17 kills to go with a .361 attacking percentage, while Pund added a match-high tying 48 assist and 23 digs.
Bealor and Oliver each had 13 kills, while Henricks had nine kills, seven blocks, and a .500 attacking percentage. Bealor, who had nine digs, hit .375 in the win, while sophomore libero Krista Coccaro added 13 digs.
USI, which is a perfect 3-0 in five-set matches this season, hosts Rockhurst University Saturday at 3 p.m. to conclude its brief two-match homestand.
